to make him； we creep into as dark and private a corner as we can： 'tis a
man's duty to withdraw himself bashfully from the light to create； but
'tis glory and the fountain of many virtues to know how to destroy what
we have made： the one is injury； the other favour： for Aristotle says
that to do any one a kindness； in a certain phrase of his country； is to
kill him。 The Athenians； to couple the disgrace of these two actions；
having to purge the Isle of Delos； and to justify themselves to Apollo；
interdicted at once all births and burials in the precincts thereof：
〃Nostri nosmet paenitet。〃
＇〃We are ashamed of ourselves。〃Terence； Phoymio； i。 3； 20。＇
There are some nations that will not be seen to eat。 I know a lady； and
of the best quality； who has the same opinion； that chewing disfigures
the face； and takes away much from the ladies' grace and beauty； and
therefore unwillingly appears at a public table with an appetite； and I
know a man also； who cannot endure to see another eat； nor himself to be
seen eating； and who is more shy of company when putting in than when
putting out。 In the Turkish empire； there are a great number of men who；
to excel others； never suffer themselves to be seen when they make their
repast： who never have any more than one a week； who cut and mangle their
faces and limbs； who never speak to any one： fanatic people who think to
honour their nature by disnaturing themselves； who value themselves upon
their contempt of themselves； and purport to grow better by being worse。
What monstrous animal is this； that is a horror to himself； to whom his
delights are grievous； and who weds himself to misfortune？ There are
people who conceal their life：
〃Exilioque domos et dulcia limina mutant；〃
＇〃And change for exile their homes and pleasant abodes。〃
Virgil； Georg。； ii。 511。＇
and withdraw them from the sight of other men； who avoid health and
cheerfulness； as dangerous and prejudicial qualities。 Not only many
sects； but many peoples； curse their birth； and bless their death； and
there is a place where the sun is abominated and darkness adored。 We are
only ingenious in using ourselves ill： 'tis the real quarry our
intellects fly at； and intellect； when misapplied； is a dangerous tool！
〃O miseri！ quorum gaudia crimen habent！〃
＇〃O wretched men； whose pleasures are a crime！〃
Pseudo Gallus； i。 180。＇
Alas； poor man！ thou hast enough inconveniences that are inevitable；
without increasing them by throe own invention； and art miserable enough
by nature； without being so by art； thou hast real and essential
deformities enough； without forging those that are imaginary。 Dost thou
think thou art too much at ease unless half thy ease is uneasy？ dost
thou find that thou hast not performed all the necessary offices that
nature has enjoined thee； and that she is idle in thee； if thou dost not
oblige thyself to other and new offices？ Thou dost not stick to infringe
her universal and undoubted laws； but stickest to thy own special and
fantastic rules； and by how much more particular； uncertain； and
contradictory they are； by so much thou employest thy whole endeavour in
them： the laws of thy parish occupy and bind thee： those of God and the
world concern thee not。 Run but a little over the examples of this kind；
thy life is full of them。
Whilst the verses of these two poets； treat so reservedly and discreetly
of wantonness as they do； methinks they discover it much more openly。
Ladies cover their necks with network； priests cover several sacred
things； and painters shadow their pictures to give them greater lustre：
and 'tis said that the sun and wind strike more violently by reflection
than in a direct line。 The Egyptian wisely answered him who asked him
what he had under his cloak； 〃It is hid under my cloak；〃 said he； 〃that
thou mayest not know what it is：〃 but there are certain other things that
people hide only to show them。 Hear that one； who speaks plainer；
〃Et nudum pressi corpus ad usque meum：〃
＇〃And pressed her naked body to mine〃 （Or：） 〃My body
I applied even to her naked side〃Ovid； Amor。； i。 5； 24。＇
methinks that he emasculates me。 Let Martial turn up Venus as high as he
may； he cannot shew her so naked： he who says all that is to be said
gluts and disgusts us。 He who is afraid to express himself； draws us on
to guess at more than is meant； there is treachery in this sort of
modesty； and specially when they half open； as these do； so fair a path
to imagination。 Both the action and description should relish of theft。
The more respectful； more timorous； more coy； and secret love of the
Spaniards and Italians pleases me。 I know not who of old wished his
throat as long as that of a crane； that he might the longer taste what he
swallowed； it had been better wished as to this quick and precipitous
pleasure； especially in such natures as mine that have the fault of being
too prompt。 To stay its flight and delay it with preambles： all things
a glance； a bow； a word； a sign； stand for favour and recompense betwixt
them。 Were it not an excellent piece of thrift in him who could dine on
the steam of the roast？ 'Tis a passion that mixes with very little solid
essence； far more vanity and feverish raving； and we should serve and pay
it accordingly。 Let us teach the ladies to set a better value and esteem
upon themselves； to amuse and fool us： we give the last charge at the
first onset； the French impetuosity will still show itself； by spinning
out their favours； and exposing them in small parcels； even miserable old
age itself will find some little share of reward； according to its worth
and merit。 He who has no fruition but in fruition； who wins nothing
unless he sweeps the stakes； who takes no pleasure in the chase but in
the quarry； ought not to introduce himself in our school： the more steps
and degrees there are； so much higher and more honourable is the
uppermost seat： we should take a pleasure in being conducted to it； as in
magnificent palaces； by various porticoes and passages； long and pleasant
galleries； and many windings。 This disposition of things would turn to
our advantage； we should there longer stay and longer love； without hope
and without desire we proceed not worth a pin。 Our conquest and entire
possession is what they ought infinitely to dread： when they wholly
surrender themselves up to the mercy of our fidelity and constancy they
run a mighty hazard； they are virtues very rare and hard to be found； the
ladies are no sooner ours； than we are no more theirs：
〃Postquam cupidae mentis satiata libido est；
Verba nihil metuere； nihil perjuria curant；〃
＇〃When our desires are once satisfied； we care little
for oaths and promises。〃Catullus； lxiv。 147。＇
And Thrasonides； a young man of Greece； was so in love with his passion
that； having； gained a mistress's consent； he refused to enjoy her； that
he might not by fruition quench and stupefy the unquiet ardour of which
he was so proud； and with which he so fed himself。 Dearness is a good
sauce to meat： do but observe how much the manner of salutation；
particular to our nation； has； by its facilities； made kisses； which
Socrates says are so powerful and dangerous for the stealing of hearts；
of no esteem。 It is a displeasing custom and injurious for the ladies；
that they must be obliged to lend their lips to every fellow who has
three footmen at his heels； however ill…favoured he may be in himself：
〃Cujus livida naribus caninis
Dependet glacies； rigetque barba 。 。 。
Centum occurrere malo culilingis：〃
Martial； vii。 94。
and we ourselves barely gain by it； for as the world is divided； for
three beautiful women we must kiss fifty ugly ones； and to a tender
stomach； like those of my age； an ill kiss overpays a good one。
In Italy they passionately court even their common women who sell
themselves for money； and justify the doing so by saying； 〃that there are
degrees of fruition； and that by such service they would procure for
themselves that which is most entire； the women sell nothing but their
bodies； the will is too free and too much of its own to be exposed to
sale。〃 So that these say； 'tis the will they undertake and they have
reason。 'Tis indeed the will that we are to serve and gain by wooing。
I abhor to imagine mine； a body without affection： and this madness is；
methinks； cousin…german to that of the boy who would needs pollute the
beautiful statue of Venus made by Praxiteles； or that of the furious
Egyptian； who violated the dead carcase of a woman he was embalming：
which was the occasion of the law then made in Egypt； that the corpses of
beautiful young women； of those of good quality； should be kept three
days before they should be delivered to those whose office it was to take
care for the interment。 Periander did more wonderfully； who extended his
conjugal affection （more regular and legitimate） to the enjoyment of his
wife Me